Odin Tonearm

Strength in the linear-tracking airbearing tonearm

The linear-tracking design of the Odin Tonearm follows the record groove as it is pressed, with no tracking error. This reduces distortion and allows relaxed reproduction, including during complex passages.

The airbearing also gives the tonearm immunity to acoustic feedback, because the moving part has no mechanical contact with the turntable. The only contact is through the stylus tip and the tonearm wire.

Timbre, detail and nuance form a natural part of the transparent and vivid acoustic image.

Odin

In Nordic mythology, Odin is a central god. Together with his brothers, he created the world and mankind. Odin is the wise god and the god of poetry, providing poets with the ecstasy and wisdom to express themselves. As a god of war, Odin acts as a strategist who arranges his army and ensures victory.

Design, Odin Tonearm

The design and construction of Odin follow our principle of simplicity, with as few parts and assemblies as possible to avoid resonances.

Stiffness and stability are essential parameters in tonearm design, and both are carefully incorporated into the Odin arm. For example, the airpipe is fixed at both ends, giving the floating part a stable base.

The armtube uses the established Bergmann approach, with a carefully considered construction made from few parts. It is formed as a double-tube construction, with damping between the tubes. This controls vibrations from the cartridge and record grooves during musical crescendos.

As with other Bergmann tonearms, the tonearm wire runs in one piece from the cartridge clips to the DIN connector. The DIN connector allows the user to choose the preferred phono interconnect cable.

The counterweight is decoupled from the arm to avoid resonances.

Floating part, perhaps the most important part of an airbearing tonearm

The first part of the tonearm to handle modulations from the record groove and cartridge is the moving part. The headshell, armtube, sliding pipe and counterweight must be carefully designed and assembled to prevent resonances from disturbing the delicate signal.

The headshell is a stiff construction machined from a single piece of aluminium and bonded with 2-component epoxy to the seamless carbon-fibre armtube. This uses a double carbon-fibre tube construction with damping between the tubes to avoid sound coloration. The armtube is fixed in a groove on top of the sliding pipe, which is machined from 2 pieces of solid aluminium and bonded with 2-component epoxy.

The space between the airpipe and the sliding pipe is 50 micron, selected for ease of use.

Azimuth is adjusted through a slot on the underside of the headshell, into which the azimuth plate fits with 100% contact. Loosen or tighten the 2 cartridge screws, then twist the cartridge to achieve the correct azimuth. Bergmann Audio does not use a twistable headshell in the armtube, as this would not provide the same strength and stiffness as the construction used on the Odin tonearm.

The tonearm wire runs in one piece from the cartridge clips to the DIN connector, supporting clean signal transmission.

• Headshell machined from solid aluminium. The design provides stiffness.
• Azimuth plate, with 100% contact to the headshell and cartridge.
• Armtube formed from a double seamless carbon-fibre construction, with damping between the tubes.
• Sliding pipe floats without friction on the airpipe.
• Tonearm wire in one piece from the cartridge clips to the DIN connector.
• Counterweight decoupled from the armtube by 3 rubber strings.

Base for the floating part

• Airpipe supported at both ends for stiffness.
• Base plate, which can be moved forwards and backwards to obtain the correct overhang and level the airpipe.
• VTA plate, with all functional parts fixed to it.
• VTA adjustment screw.
• VTA pillars fixed to the base plate. The VTA plate can be adjusted on the pillars by turning the VTA adjustment screws.
• Screws to secure the VTA plate after VTA adjustment.
• Air input, supporting the floating part with a frictionless air cushion.
• Airflow can be adjusted with a valve at the air supply.
• DIN connector, compatible with all brands of phono cable.

Air supply

The air supply has received careful attention, with the aim of providing a quiet unit that can be placed in the listening room and deliver an even, clean and dry airflow.

The pump is an oil-free, long-life unit that requires little maintenance.

Impulses from the pump are absorbed in an encapsulated reservoir, producing an even airflow to the airbearing. A filter prevents dust particles from entering the system and can be replaced when necessary.